A 58-day ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal will come into effect from midnight today and continue until June 11, aiming to ensure the sustainable breeding and conservation of marine fish stocks, particularly hilsa, officials said. The revised ban, confirmed by the divisional fisheries office, replaces the previously enforced 65-day restriction that had been in place annually from May 20 to July 23 since 2015.
Authorities said the change came in response to longstanding demands from fishing communities, who called for synchronisation with India’s fishing restrictions to prevent cross-border fishing during Bangladesh’s ban period.
“Our demand was to synchronise the ban with India’s schedule so their trawlers can’t fish while we’re restricted,” said Yasin Majhi, a fisherman from Kalapara. “We’re glad the government listened. But we also want timely distribution of aid, and the amount should be increased.”
Barishal District Fisheries Officer Ripon Kanti Ghosh said his office has already requested Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) support for 2,869 registered fishermen in the district.
He added that 288 artisanal fishing boats in the area have been issued licenses this year. According to the fisheries department, there are 7,405 such boats operating across the Barishal division, and over one lakh people in the region rely on marine fishing for their livelihood.